When members of the American Rose Society met at Columbus, Ohio, in September 1953, one of the rose gardens they visited on a tour was that of Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Landry in nearby Worthington. Instead of glancing casually at everything in the garden and pressing forward to admire the roses superbly grown in … Read more
With warm weather still here and the flurry of spring planting long over, there is time to relax and enjoy the results of our labors in the garden. Annuals set out in the spring are still blooming merrily, and the lawn is cool and green beneath the lush foliage of the trees. Far be it … Read more
The grape varieties grown by home gardeners are hybrids or crosses among two or more distinct species. The European wine grape, Vitis vinifera, is part of most grape varieties used for grape juice and wines. The fox grape— labrusca, the muscadine grape—rotundifolia, and the Southern summer grape have all been used as parents. In the … Read more
“Its hidden silk has spun.” These few words, taken from Helen Hunt Jackson’s poem “September,” artfully introduce the lovely Asclepias syriaca or milkweed. Visualizing Asclepias syriaca, you probably think of it as another weed; tall, awkward, and just a nuisance. But there is some good in almost everything if you seek it, and so it … Read more
The white baneberry, Actaea alba (pachypoda), grows wild in moist, rich woods from Canada to Georgia and west as far as Oklahoma. The plant is also known as snakeberry, necklace berry, doll eyes, and white cohosh. The fuzzy, white flowers appear in May and June. They are not particularly showy, but the central masses of … Read more
In all regions of this country except the colder portions of the northern states, it is not only feasible but more advantageous to plant small and tree fruits, except peaches, in fall rather than spring. Weather is more dependable in fall, and heavy soils, especially, are in better condition. Even if wet and packed too … Read more
What looked like a wild, cream-colored water lily in abundant bloom was seen last fall in the backwaters of certain slow-flowing Kansas streams. It was striking in appearance and worth going miles to see. Nelumbo Luteum You could gather an armful of the big flowers without getting your feet wet, and they made a showy … Read more
With some 700 species and at least 10,000 hybrids to choose from, it is little wonder the rhododendron has claimed the affection and interest of gardeners. Whenever a breathtaking specimen is seen, the desire to own one like it becomes overwhelming. Before success with rooted cuttings, rhododendrons were propagated either by grafting or layering. Unfortunately, … Read more
An old and often repeated saying is that lilacs should be chosen in the spring but planted in the fall. Like most sayings of this kind, it is sound but needs qualification. Lilacs, like any other plant, behave differently in different environments. Some are dependable bloomers, others are rapid growers, and many are slowly blooming … Read more
Cemmenting on the claim by advocates of organic gardening that commercial fertilizers are harmful to the soil. Donald Conlin of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, says that, although the use of composts and organic matter is highly recommended for gardens. Commercial Fertilizers Experimental results show that when commercial fertilizers are used with organic matter … Read more